Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-10-07
LOB STERS.
Some Facts Concerning the Warriors
of the Deep.

Some Facts Concerning the Warriors
of the Deep.
During the early period of its growth, says
the Baltimore Sun, the lobster casts the
| whole of its shell frequently-in the second
year every two months-but as its size in-
creases new dress is less often required, till
at last, when arrived at the fullness of ply
steal dignity, it's armor grows as it were rusty,
and becomes coated over with parasitic shells.
DR.. Peard tells US that ''the lobster only
| increases in size during the short period of
| molting, but this increase is so great that it
| is almost as difficult to believe the cast off
| clothes ever fitted the large fesby mass lying
| languldly beside them, as that the gigantic
genie ever came out of the jar, the lid of
which had been in an evil hour removed by
the Arabian fisherman"
When the pea is sufficiently ripe the fish
has the power to place her eggs under the
| protection of her over-arching shell, where
| they advance gradually to maturity, one
lobster producing from twenty to twenty
| five thousand eggs each season. The spawn
| is thus carried by the mother till nearly
| time to commence Independent life, and
when cast off it soon gives birth to the
young lobster, which grows rapidly, but
passes through many changes before it as
sumes the form and color with which or
dinary observers are most familiar.
Enormous as is the increase from a sin
gle female lobster, their numbers are con-
siderably diminished by predatory fish
which devour them with great avidity and
relish, but we are told that the mother
protects her progeny to the utmost, and
by no means ceases her care with the deposit
of her spawn, but continues it In a very
pleasing and interesting manner longer than
in most animals of far higher grade of or
GSha S1,a4% %hax-
have frequently seen during the season old
Holsters with their young around them.
"Some of these infants have been noticed at
six inches long, the old lobster with her head
peeping out from under a rock, the young
ones playing around her. She appeared to
rattle her claws on the approach of the fish
ermen, when herself and young family took
refuge under the rocks; the rafting was no
doubt to give the alarm. This is told by old
and experienced men, without the slightest
concern or question of collusion."
Who, after this, will not believe in the
loves of the lobster as willingly in an
oyster crossed in its affections?
"The Holsters home," says DR.. Peard, F'is
in the purest water, beneath which he walks
through brown and tangled forests of palmy
weeds, warrior in full panoply, ever ready
to do battle with all comers.''
Tt is here in rocky ground and in the fast
nesses such localities afford to creature SO
frequently defenceless he feeds chiefly on the
aquatic vegetation which surrounds him,
chopping up his salad with the large claw,
little conscious how his example may be fol-
lowed by man at feast at which he may be
the principal invited guest.
Lobsters and crabs vary in their tastes.
Lobsters will be attracted by almost any de-
scription of offal, the more putrescent the
better; the crab will refuse to enter if the
bait is not sweet and fresh.
DR.. Blakey says the lobster is considered
an uuclean eater, and is often called the
scavenger of the seas. He is fierce marau
der, pouncing dead or living substances
of all kinds He appears to have a power
full sense of smell, although no distinct or
gans for this office have been as yet detected.
His carnivorous yoracity leads to the ami
mails destruction. Baited traps made Of
strong twigs, like the common wire mouse
traps, are lowered into the water and marked
with buoy, and these become the most eff
fectual means of capturing this epiourean
crustacean.